Changing of the Guard

So much happening, but we're taking a quick minute to share some of it. Our wonderful President and Sister Allen will return to Washington state where they'll continue to grow apples and asparagus. (He actually ran across a box of his apples here in Yekaterinburg in a grocery store!) We love them and everyone will miss them.

President and Sister Allcott will arrive on Thursday. After lifetimes of service in the Church (and a career as a fire chief) they will be great, and we're sure we will love them, too.

For us personally, it means a few extra tasks in the Office--so we're busy.

"I Feel My Savior's Love"

We met a wonderful mother and father on a transport van two months ago--a musical family of four children. The dad is a professional musician and the mother writes children's songs. We finally went to their home last week and gave them a Primary song book.

When the mother suggested the 10-year-old flute player and 12-year-old violinist play at our Church we jumped at the opportunity. Our Elder Sorensen (SLC) has a violin so he went to their home to practice with them.

Long story short: Today in Sacrament Meeting Elder Sorensen played along with this talented mother on the piano and her very accomplished daughters. I Lived in Heaven and I Feel My Savior's Love. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!! It was so, so beautiful.

We love this wonderful family.

(Can't yet load the little video of the practice session.)

Dacha

On Saturday, our Preparation Day, we accepted an invitation to go to President and Sister Prihodka's "dacha." City dwellers love summer time when they can leave their small apartments and go to the outskirts of town and work in their gardens. There are neighborhoods of gardens, along with simple, cabin-like summer homes. Wow! We loved it.

First of all, we didn't realize how much we missed a yard. Elder Mac weeded while Sister Mac picked strawberries. They barbequed fish, chicken and "shashleek" or shish-ka-bobs.

Because of the short winter and chance or frost, they make good use of green houses. They grow everything, including flowers. Peonies right now.

After dinner they sang Russian love songs. Their son, Paul, (Pavel) was out of school at the university so he translated for us all.
The "dacha" houses don't have indoor plumbing, but they often have access to good drinkable, well water. Also, they have a sauna or "banya." Theirs included a stove for heat and steam, and a normal shower to rinse off afterward.

C - O - L - D Showers

As mentioned, the city controls the utilities to apartment buildings, including hot water. We were warned that in summer months they conserve. Our heat has been turned off for a couple of months, which hasn't been a problem.

However, yesterday morning NO HOT WATER! We think we could hear a man in a neighboring apartment expressing his displeasure at the discovery. 

Now we heat water on the stove so Elder Mac can shave. : )

EDIT: It turns out all sections of the city get the hot water turned off while they check/clean the pipes.  If yours are OK, you get your hot water back.  If pipes are bad, they have to dig them up and you're out in the cold for a month or two.  We have our hot water back already!  Some missionaries have gone without for eight weeks or more.

Graffiti

Longest Day

Our sun was up at 5:00 and down at 11:00.  It stays light, like twilight, pretty much all night.

Happy Father's Day to all the DADS. Of course, there is no celebration for it here.  They have "Defenders Day" earlier in the year to honor all men since all men must serve one year in the army.

(photo thanks to 02varvara)

Missionaries

1. With tie remnants, Back: Elders Haderlie (MT), Shreeve (AZ), Dishnica (Albania). Front: Dewey (AZ), Sorensen (S. Jordan), Melnik (Ukraine), O'Dair (AZ), Vierig (Holiday, UT).

When a missionary leaves, Sister Allen cuts off their tie (to go in a quilt she'll make back home.) Since the Allens are leaving soon, she is cutting everyone's tie at final Zone Conferences so no one will be left out.


2. At airport on visa trip, catching a glimpse of a Laker game.

3. Elder Dorman entertains Sisters Sulimenko and Zakharova (both Russia)with his tale of a train trip with Sister Keleman.





4. Sister Ozerova (Russia) in back leaves the Office for the last time, at the end of her mission.

5. Sister Hardman (Provo) welcomes her new companion from the MTC, Sister Taylor (Cedar Hills, UT).

6. Transfers: Loading in taxi's headed to the train station.

BRIC

Yekat was in the news this week because of the economic summit here of BRIC.

For those of us here, it meant the city worked hard for months to build and spruce up. For the three or four actual days the airport was restricted and police were out in force to prevent trouble.

Praise to the Man

On Sunday we asked our Botanika Elders, Dewey(AZ) and Sorenson (Jordan, UT), to invite someone from the Branch to come for dinner and a lesson. We were thinking of less-actives, but we ended up with wonderful Elena and President and Sister Prihodka, along with Elders Thomas (SLC) and Brown (BC,Canada) .

After a rainy day, we loved the cool air from the windows while Elder Sorensen played hymns. Some we sang to, some we listened to. Elder McEvoy asked the members to plan to help us friendship less-actives. (Retention is a problem here).

(Elena, a single mom whose only daughter is serving her mission in Hawaii (!?) gave the RS lesson on Sunday.)

Romantic

We generally avoid political discussions, so when we talked about "Dream Destinations" in English, we didn't expect Svetlana's answer: "Cuba."
Pause. Mild surprise on our part.
"For the climate?" we asked.
"No," she said simply. "To see Castro." Others murmured agreement.
"And what is it about Castro that appeals to you?"
Pause. Mild surprise on their part that we should ask.
"He is so romantic. His speeches," Valari tried to explain, demonstrating with stiff posture and raised hand.

We can see why--the little guy who stood up to the big USA.

Visa Trip

We fly to Helsinki again tomorrow. They've tried to streamline it so it should be 48 hours or less. We'll get to go to the Temple this time.

Preach My Gospel

This book, Preach My Gospel is THE tool for missionaries across the world. We have really come to develop a desire and a love for the teachings within this powerful publication.

When the book was first released, I used it with our youngest son Al and his friends who were all at the age of deciding about serving a mission. I have since learned a great deal more about the book, its authors, and its purpose. Now we use it in our time here in Russia, and have come to the conclusion this would be a great course of study for the grandchildren we love. Family Home Evening anyone?

Look at the book and see the concepts, the principles, and most importantly, the doctrines that are taught in those inspired pages. Think what powerful young members these McEvoy and Stanley grandchildren will be as they learn from ‘goodly parents,’ the principles and doctrines which are available in Preach My Gospel.

There is not much that is new here, but there are well planned lessons which are powerful.

To view and use this book in your own spiritual study, use this link for Preach My Gospel.

Elder & Sister McEvoy

Spring

Seasons take on new meanings.
Spring I : The bitterest cold is gone, you put away the heaviest coat, and men and machines crack the thick, dirty ice off of walks and roadways. The new snow comes but melts.

Spring II: You spot buds on trees and almost overnight you see blossoms and greenery. Still cold mornings, sometimes freezing. Elders can wear short-sleeve shirts, no coats.

Summer: The heat hits. Everyone has new sunburns and summery clothes. With such a short night, things hardly have time to cool off.

When we told Elvira we treat dandelions as weeds and pull them up, she laughed and said, "Oh, no, but they're so pretty." Here she's standing by the lake that was frozen in midwinter.

(Luda in our Branch brought lilacs to sister Mac; dandelions seen from the bus; church on the Blood reflected in the water.)

Dom

The five story "domes" built by Kruschev were welcomed because they offered hot and cold running water, indoor WC, and the enclosed balcony (pronounced "bal-kone")--for free.

Alya remembers her parents waiting several years until their name came up so they could have one. Although aged, the apartments are valuable because housing is scarce. Young married couples live with in-laws. It's rare to start off in their own place.

Outside this dom, someone has been sprucing up the groundfloor garden space.
(click to enlarge)

Spring Cleaning

Most of the old wooden houses don't have indoor plumbing, so residents must go to the corner pumps and carry the water back to their houses, sometimes on small wagons or sleds. This woman is washing a large rug at the pump early in the morning.

Follow-Up

We're catching up in the Office after our Wonderful Weekend.

It was unusual for us to have every missionary gathered together at once, but now they're all back at work in their areas after sundry bus and train rides.

President Allen thanked Elder Mac for all his behind-the-scenes work. "We couldn't have done it without Elder McEvoy." When asked for the highlight of the event for him Roger said, "When it started." He took care of plans small and large.

Large: Meeting hall. Despite our early plans for the best possible place, we didn't get a contract signed until the Monday before the Sunday meeting. Tense.
Small: Contents of gift baskets; platorm seating arrangement signs; water bottles in cars.

Meanwhile, Sister Mac did her various assignments, such as "invitation" design. Her favorite task: Vaselina Novikova asked her to help with the Church's reporting of the event.

President Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen

Over 560 members gathered to hear our visitors this Sunday. Some came from as far away as Surgut, a 1000 mile, 23 hour train ride.

After the main meeting, the Apostles met with the missionaries in a smaller room to answer questions and to encourage.

It was WONDERFUL!

Touring

City tour lead by our Elvira Bryandina:
President and Sister Allen, Elder and Sister Andersen, President Wolfgang Paul, and President and Sister Uchtdorf.